The Countdown: SNL Musical Guest Wish List

Saturday Night Live will always be something I look forward to watching every week. Every season I always look forward to what musical guests Lorne Michaels and company are going to book. Last week, Arcade Fire kicked off the 39th season, while Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry are booked for this week and next. SNL does a fairly decent job of mixing in established bands with up-and-coming bands throughout a season. What follows in the replies is my wish list for artists I hope to see grace the SNL stage this year along with what songs I'd like to see played. After you check out my list, make sure to add in what bands you'd like to see this season.

The LA trio of sisters are certainly blowing up amongst bloggers and online publications with their new album, Days Are Gone. A blend of indie-pop along with Wilson Phillips and Fleetwood Mac and you have a certain energy most bands cannot match. It only makes sense for Haim to make its mark in the industry by showing up on the SNL stage this year.

4) CHVRCHES - "The Mother We Share" & "Gun"

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The debut album from CHVRCHES, The Bones Of What You Believe, totally re-energizes me whenever I listen to it. Lauren Mayberry's voice is angelic and compliments the euphoric electronica that comes forth from Iain Cook and Martin Doherty. Another buzzy band that's getting a lot of attention this year, the uplifting anthems of "The Mother We Share" and "Gun" would put a jolt through the usual SNL audience.

3) Chelsea Wolfe - "We Hit A Wall" & "The Warden"

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If SNL wants to continue to be seen as a "trendsetter," then they must book Chelsea Wolfe immediately. This is my wild card pick, but I cannot think of any other artist whom would transfix and haunt an audience like Wolfe. Her newest album, Pain Is Beauty, is a beautifully destructive masterpiece and "We Hit A Wall" and "The Warden" would absolutely slay. Her on-stage presence and demeanor would bring a presence to the SNL stage that hasn't been felt in years.

2) Danny Brown - "Dip" & "25 Bucks"

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The craziest and most daring mind in hip-hop right now, Danny Brown would turn SNL and its audience on their head. His upcoming record, Old, is bringing excitement to the genre and its fans and what better way to capitalize on that than by unleashing his brand of wordplay and flow on a late Saturday night? The national audience wouldn't even know what him 'em.

1) The National - "Sea of Love" & "Graceless"

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I actually couldn't believe that The National hasn't played on SNL before. Talk about a band being long overdue. The National are one of the absolute best live bands alive today and with its latest record, Trouble Will Find Me, receiving a plethora of critical and commercial success, it only makes sense for Matt Berninger and company to change lives on Saturday Night Live. Plus who doesn't want to hear Berninger yell his lungs out on "Sea of Love"?

I'd love to see Haim and CHVRCHES on SNL. Also, I'm pretty sure Katy Perry is the musical guest next week, not Kings of Leon. Although, I'd be glad to see them on there as well. Their new album Mechanical Bull is great.